Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Saturday, December 14, 2024 74° Today's Paper


Top News

Hawaii auditor: Zip line regulations expensive

STAR-ADVERTISER / SEPTEMBER 2011
A bill calling for state oversight of the safety of the zip-line industry was deferred Thursday

A Hawaii state auditor says a proposal to regulate zip line tour companies would cost $400,000 to set up and $350,000 to implement each year, with unclear benefits to making rides safer.

State Auditor Marion Higa said in a report submitted to Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the Hawaii Legislature that there’s not enough evidence to suggest zip lines are seriously dangerous, despite the death of a worker testing a new zip line on the Big Island last year.

Higa says the industry has a generally good safety record given that zip lining and similar activities are inherently risky.

State lawmakers introduced a bill in January to have 22 zip line companies regulated by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. It was referred to the House Finance Committee in March.

Comments are closed.